An Equation for Procrastination

Dear Yeti,
I am a Mexican guy who came to the Netherlands to study a master in economics two years ago. Of course I don't have money so I do this on a scholarship by the Netherlands government. My problem is that I'm supposed to be finished with the program about these days and I still owe a bunch of papers plus my thesis. I don't know what to do I keep procrastinating all the time and even have become a regular at coffee shops. I feel morally bankrupt I know I blew the biggest opportunity in my life (until now). To be more realistic I know that time-wise it is almost impossible to get it done and I am very anxious because of this. What should I do? My dream was to finish these studies and to continue for a PhD. I thought I had the talents to do it but now I'm not so sure. I feel I will disappoint many including myself but because of other circumstances I wasted almost a year here and now I cannot catch up and I don't have the means to buy me some more time.

I appreciate your view.
Julio

Dear Julio,

Here’s an old saying that should make sense to you, Over time, hard work pays off, the problem is that procrastination pays off now. True you may have blown the biggest opportunity of your life (to date) but life is long and I think you just need to calm down and face your problem head on. Is it possible you just don’t want to be an economist?

Are you distracted by something else specifically, like do you secretly want to become a circus acrobatic, or a matador? If so, I’ll tell you what just about anyone who has lived through their 20s will tell you. Just go do it, no matter what it pays or what other people think about you. It’ll make your life fulfilling and the money will follow. Easier said than done I know, but nonetheless the truth. However, after reading the subtext of your letter I get the feeling that it’s not some abandoned dream that’s got you studying economics, it’s more about a lack of confidence and direction that’s got you down.This is a bit more complicated.

It’s time to step up to the line of adulthood and cross it. Everyone in society has a responsibility to do something constructive with the opportunities they are provided. It’s up to you to find that spark of confidence and compassion. Quit wasting your time procrastinating your way through college. It’s making you more and more miserable. The guilt of not being productive is growing everyday, only making your problem worse. It’s a downward spiral, and it’s time to pull out.

You need a clean slate. Forgive yourself totally and completely for messing up this opportunity and rededicate your life to something with substance, something you want to do.

You don’t have to have a degree in economics to read between the lines on your whole “I have become a regular at coffee shops (Netherlands)” statement. Usted estas fumando hierba demasiado mi amigo. Youâ€™re in Am-dam smoking dope all day and you want answers to why your life is going to shit? Come on grow up.

Your life is a formula; an equation only you can solve. Just change a few variables in your equation and the outcome will be different.